Results

Data are presented for the rucaparib and placebo groups, respectively. ARIEL3 enrolled 564 pts (375 and 189 in each group). PFS data are summarised in the Table. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent AEs were anaemia (18.8% and 0.5%) and alanine/aspartate aminotransferase increase (10.5% and 0%). At the visit cutoff date (15 Apr 2017), 13.4% and 1.6% of pts discontinued due to treatment-emergent AEs (excluding disease progression); 1.6% and 1.1% of pts died due to AEs (including disease progression).Table:

Background

For several decades, standard first-line chemotherapy for EOC has been carboplatin (C) and paclitaxel (T), administered 3-weekly (q3w). The JGOG3016 trial reported clinically significant lengthening of PFS and overall survival in Japanese women using dose-dense weekly (q1w) T but with increased toxicity. ICON8 is a 3-arm trial, comparing standard q3w CT with dose-dense q1w regimens in a predominantly European patient group.

Conclusions

Although weekly dose-dense chemotherapy can be delivered successfully as first-line EOC treatment without substantial toxicity increase, it does not significantly improve PFS compared to standard 3-weekly CT.

News

In the largest study so far undertaken, US researchers have shown that testosterone replacement slows the recurrence of prostate cancer in low-risk patients. This may call into question the general applicability of Nobel-Prize winning hormonal prostate treatment. The work is presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona.